A neophyte lawmaker on Wednesday warned President Benigno Aquino III he could be impeached for culpable violation of the Constitution should government distribute contraceptives that would later be found to induce abortion.
At the second hearing on the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill, Bacolod Rep. Anthony Golez noted that the Population Commission released P100 million and the Department of Health P400 million to purchase contraceptives, pills and intrauterine devices.
But Golez said, “Before we can even decide at all [on the bill] we have to decide whether or not the State, as enshrined in the Constitution, would protect the life of mother and unborn from moment of fertilization or conception?"
“We have to answer first, when does human life begin," Golez said, stressing that the House committee on population and family relations should prioritize discussions on this.
Those against the RH bill believe life begins at fertilization, or when a sperm cell fertilizes an egg cell. On the other hand, RH bill advocates believe life starts only when the fertilized egg is implanted onto the wall of the uterus.
Last week, Biliran Rep. Rogelio Espina, the head of the committee on population and family relations, told media the House will not rush the passage of the RH bill, citing the need to first thoroughly discuss the proposed legislation. (See: House will not rush passage of RH bill)
'President on the right track'
However, House minority leader Edcel Lagman, who authored one of several pending RH bills, disagreed and said, “I don’t think the President is risking any impeachment threat with respect to his steadfast advocacy on voluntary family planning and responsible parenthood."
“I think [Golez] was extrapolating too much on Constitutional issues and definitely the testimonies of those who are knowledgeable would be practically unanimous that these contraceptives are not abortifacients," Lagman said in a press conference.
“I think that the President is on the right track when he is steadfast on promoting responsible parenthood, which is part of our measure, and also in advocating freedom of choice with respect to contraceptive use," he said.
Responsible parenthood a ground to impeach?
In Malacañang, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte doubted there was a ground to impeach President Aquino.
"Impeachment of the President because of the RH bill? The President has already said na ang posisyon po natin d’yan [that his position on the matter] is for responsible parenthood. Hindi ko po alam kung saan po manggagaling doon sa posisyon ng responsible parenthood ang any ground for impeachment [I don’t how a stand for responsible parenthood can be a ground for impeachment]," said Valte, who is a lawyer.
Aquino is pushing for responsible parenthood, to thoroughly inform couples of their parenting responsibilities as well as their reproductive health choices.
In this approach, once the government has provided couples comprehensive information, it may also provide poor couples their chosen birth control method.—With Jam L. Sisante/MT/JV, GMANews.T
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